Rice Stands Out At The Back As Chicharito Has Huge Say In The Wrong Box For The Wrong Reasons

Luke Glanville

2 weeks ago

Let’s take an in-depth look at West Ham United player performance in the wake of David Moyes’ sides crushing Premier League thrashing by Carlos Carvalhal’s Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Hammers fell to a fourth defeat in succession on the road in all competitions.

Adrian San-Miguel: 6/10

Starting in front of England man Joe Hart as usual for Premier League matches, the Spanish shot-stopper endured an afternoon that he will hope to forget in a hurry for the second weekend in succession.

While it would have been harsh to pint the finger at Adrian for any of the hosts’ four goals, many felt that he could have done better in attempting to keep out Ki Sung-Yueng’s opener despite being unsighted and was highly-unfortunate to see his parry fall to Andy King for the third, he will be looking to come back stronger next Saturday.

Pablo Zabaleta: 5/10

Featuring in his usual right wing back position, the Argentinian veteran struggled to deal with the pace and power of the Swansea attack at times, seeing his flank exposed on numerous occasions.

Going forward, Zabaleta also offered very little and in his defence, so did the Hammers team as a whole in South Wales, but his showing was a rare bad day at the office for the usually consistent former Manchester City man and may count against him in the Hammer of the Year running.

Declan Rice: 7/10

Coming into the defence in place of injured James Collins, the Irish prodigy enjoyed a mixed afternoon, thrown in at the deep end as the senior figure in the middle of the back three after Winston Reid’s horrific 18th-minute injury.

Rice saved what would have been a certain goal for home captain Federico Fernandez in the same move as his counterpart’s injury with an incredible block off the line, but lost Mike van der Hoorn from a corner shortly after as he headed home, a learning curve in part for the starlet.

Winston Reid: 6/10

Making his first starting XI since returning from injury and a throat infection, the New Zealand International captain became the fourth Irons centre-back to be struck down with injury, illness or leave the club in just over seven days.

Reid replaced in ill Angelo Ogbonna and saw his outing last only 18 minutes, when he stretched to deny Alfie Mawson in the box and fell awkwardly, both of his knees being caught under his body and also smashing his head on the turf in the process, he was rushed to hospital and his fans are now nervously awaiting news of his scans.

Aaron Cresswell: 6/10

The England international kept his place in the team, remaining in the left centre-half position that he has been forced to play on a number of occasions this season, though his natural position is left-back.

Cresswell was exposed time and time again, struggling greatly to deal with his former teammate Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan up-front together, Moyes may now have a rethink about where best to use him ahead of the run-in.

Patrice Evra: 5/10

Keeping his place at left wing back from Anfield to the surprise of many, the 36-year-old’s afternoon would only last 45 minutes as he was sacrificed at half-time for Michail Antonio.

When he was on the pitch, Evra appeared to be punching his weight, looking a threat going forward and winning the ball back on occasion on his flank, he certainly wasn’t the worst of the performers, though it’s unclear whether he will earn a home debut on Saturday.

Mark Noble: 6/10

Retaining his spot just in front of the back five, the skipper put in his usual gutsy showing in protecting the defence and looking to support the attack and couldn’t be outwardly faulted too much for his individual display.

Perhaps Noble’s only criticism could have been his lack of pace in midfield at times and letting the odd player slip by him from the opposition team, but it could be clearly seen how the result affected him and he will be keen to redeem himself next time out.

Cheikhou Kouyate: 5/10

Partnering Noble in the centre was the Senegal captain, who endured a tricky afternoon at the Liberty Stadium, being found out in midfield and defence, including the instance where he fouled one Ayew brother in the box, allowing the other to convert a penalty for the fourth.

Despite his largely lacklustre display, Kouyate did lend his name to an assist for Antonio for the second weekend in succession, helping the ball down from a Cresswell free-kick for the winger to finish impressively, that should give him some confidence to take back to East London.

Manuel Lanzini: 5/10

Featuring in his preferred No10 role, the Argentina International was making his second start since coming back from a one-month lay-off due to a hamstring injury.

Lanzini’s highlight was playing Marko Arnautovic in for one of his team’s two efforts on target but many a supporter couldn’t have been blamed for forgetting that he was on the pitch at times such was his unusually quiet display, lacking his usual creative spark.

Marko Arnautovic: 7/10

The Austrian international was the partner of the man who he tops the top-scorer list with on Saturday and endured a frustrating trip, to say the least about it.

Arnautovic was booked for showing his frustration in the first period and wasted a huge chance to pull one back and make it 3-2 in the second, delaying and beating two men before forcing Lukasz Fabianski into a routine catch, he will look back on the moment with great regret.

Javier Hernandez: 5/10

Another man who will be ruing his own performance at the weekend will be the other half of the attack in Mexico’s all-time leading goal-scorer, who was miles off the pace at the Liberty.

Chicharito made the headlines for the wrong reasons for a bizarre moment in the wrong box, guarding the line from a corner, Adrian’s save from an Ayew header rebounded off him and fell to King for a simple tap-in, an assist in the wrong box for Hernandez, while offering next to nothing at the right end.

Sam Byram: 6/10

Replacing the injured Reid and being forced to play in the right wing back role when he was introduced, the young English defender’s showing was rather absent, and he acted as a passenger for the most part.

While he has been frustrated with injuries and a lack of playing time this season, he could have created more in an attacking sense and certainly defended better, doing little to put forward his case for a starting Xl place.

Michail Antonio: 7/10

Replacing veteran Evra at the break, the Three Lions winger was entering the match with the East Londoners behind by some distance for the second Saturday in succession and achieved very much the same results.

Antonio was the man to provide the visitors with a faint lifeline once again, bringing down a long Cresswell free-kick with the help of Kouyate, turning and smashing the ball into the far bottom corner, giving Fabianski little chance and boosting his hope of a home start next weekend, his third of the term, all of them have come on the road.

So, now that each and every West Ham featuring squad member from yet another afternoon to forget away from home has been well and truly rated, can the Caret & Blue stars rack up higher numbers come next Saturday afternoon? When Sean Dyche’s Burnley visit the London Stadium in the Premier League?